The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-29
SHELTERS FOR STOCK.
Why Farmers Save Food and Obta
Greater Growth by SheIteriny.

as a room is warmed by combustion
of wood, coal, etc. When the sur
rounding atmosphere is cold, and es
pecially if it be in motion, the heat O
tie body is carried off rapidly anC
more must be manufactured at the ex
pcnse of food TO keep up the bodily TEN
perature. By sheltering animals w,
cOnfine body of warm still air abou
them, hence reduce the escape of ami
NAL heat, and the food which other
wise would be used in the making o
bodily heat is deposited as fat. muscle
or bone. This explains why we say,
food or obtain. greater growth by shell
tcring. The food is made greater by
the greater consumption ard better
digestion and assimilation of food by
animals in comfortable quarters com
pared with those exposed to the wind:
and SHOWS of winter. Hogs bodies are
fatty ana compact, and they lie close to
ge;her; hence they do not need so warm
shelter as horses, cattle or sheep. Wher
their shelter is too warm they become
overheated, and when they leave it are
chilled, leading TO congestion, likely
producing catarrhal, bronchial or pull.
monary troubles. In herds protected
from rain. snow and winds, they re.
Guire no litter; isolated hogs may have
litter in severe weather. In timbered
locality the most economical swine
shelter is made by building up a pen OF
large poles to Il height of four feet. On
n southern or an eastern slope is good
location. The poles are nOtched tC
prevent their rolling and to reduce the
cracks between them. The upper
crack all around is left open for venti.
latiOn, the other cracks are chinked.
Poles are laid across the top of the pen
and on them is built a straw roof A
doorway is cut in the east or south
side; no door is needed. A shallow
ditch is cut around the upper sides OF
the pen and the dirt from it is banked
against the bottom poles; this to keep
surface water out of the shelter.
Another good swine shelter is made
by setting posts in the ground and to
these mailing boards horizontally for
the side. leaving the east OF south side
open. Boards are also used for the
roof, which slants toward the lowest
side. In this case also q ditch and
banking excludes water. There should
be space of three or four inches be-
tween the roof and the sides for ventil-
alton, the roof projecting enough to
prevent rain or snow from blowing in
at these openings. Foul air is as hurt
full to swine or cattle as to man. Farm
animals foul the air in their shelters
rapidly, because they deposit their
droppings in the shelters and the mat
ter thrown off by their lungs and
skin is very offensive. Ventilation is
easy, because the fouled air in the
shelter is heated. while the pure air
outside is cool, and heated air rises
while cool air sinks. Hence, if we make
openings near to the top of the shell
tiers, the foul air viii rise and pass out
while the pure air will enter and sink
to take its place. The animals
will not be chilled for the
vertical currents produced are
slow and gentle; the outside air
sinks slowly and is warmed somewhat
as it descends. The opening may be
made under the caves, as in the swire
shelters just described, or they may re
made in the roof and covered by a
cupola which will keep out rain ard
snow and yet allow the air to pass
through its latticed sides. This is the
better method of ventilation when the
shelter reaches the dignity of building.
Many people think the cupola is only
for show and may be left off as a matter
of little value; l have seen cupolas where
there was no opening in the roof. But
while cupola adds to the appearance
of building, its real design is to Sc
cure ventilation. No building should
be without at least one, and always
there should be two openings in tho
roof, separated by thin partition.
When 1 see a stable without cupolas /
feel sorry for the brutes confined in it
and sorry for the owner. 1 know that
they are losing IN thrift and he in purse.
For the sides of stock shelters straw
is very good material 1t is poor
conductor of heat, hence makes warm
shelter. But it is not so economical as
is usually supposed. A frame must be
made for it, and it is lost for feeding
purposes, while straw shelter must
be repaired almost every year. When
is taken into account it will
often be found as cheap to build a
shelter of boards, and as it is cheaper
to point lumber in a building than not
to paint it. your economical shelter
will be neat building that will add to
the attractiveness of the homestead,
Straw for the roof is rarely econom-
ical. Above all things, the shelter
should protect from rain and snow.
Animals will endure a low tempera-
ture and not suffer greatly if they are
dre, but if their hides are wet there
is a rapid loss to their owners.
Hogs and sheep especially are
more injured by being wet
than is generally supposed. Many
think that because of the yolky fleece
sheep are not hurt by rain or snow, but
this is a mistake. Straw roofs are so
apt to become defective and require so
much repairing, that usually roofs of
shingles or boards will be more econom-
ical. In the effort to make shelters
warm, not only fresh air, hut light